Our Financial Aid Policy
Cistercian Preparatory School is committed to enrolling students who will most benefit from the Cistercian program. The decision to offer a student admission is made on the basis of a student’s application file, independent of his financial circumstances. The School actively recruits students of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
The School holds that parents have an obligation to pay for the educational expenses of their children. Within the limits of the School’s financial aid resources, however, the Financial Aid Committee seeks to assist those families who are not able to meet the financial costs of their son’s education at Cistercian.
Families are awarded financial aid on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Cistercian offers no merit scholarships. Financial aid awards are for one year only, and families must reapply for financial aid every year and demonstrate continuing financial need. All financial information submitted is kept in the strictest confidence.
For 2024-25 Financial Aid Guidelines, click here: CPS Financial Aid Guidelines
Procedure and Timetable for Applying for Financial Aid
Cistercian uses the School and Student Services (SSS) platform for the initial evaluation of parent financial aid applications. SSS collaborates with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) so that the needs assessment methodology used is continually updated and improved to remain relevant to current economic realities. This collaboration helps to insure that financial aid solutions are reflective of NAIS standards of best practice in financial aid management.
Please refer to the SSS Family Resource Center found here: https://sssandtadsfa.my.site.com/familyportal/. There is much helpful information on the Resources tab and the Support & Help tab. This is where you will find, complete, and upload the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) and eventually upload your tax documents.
Deadlines
March 28, 2025
Parents must complete the online PFS Form on the SSS website. If a student’s parents are divorced or separated, EACH PARENT must complete a separate PFS Form on the SSS website.
April 11, 2025
Parents must submit a copy of their 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 complete with all related schedules, all K-1s, all 1099s, and all W-2s. Any business tax return must also be submitted to SSS. If a student’s parents are divorced or separated, EACH PARENT must submit their separate required tax documents to SSS.
Award determinations will be communicated to families in May but will be delayed for any family with a delinquent FACTS balance as of May 1.
Given limited financial aid resources, the School may not be able to meet all demonstrated need for financial aid.
Financial Aid Guidelines
- Financial Aid (FA) will be applied to the cost of tuition and registration fee only.
- Financial Aid may be offered to students demonstrating a need >50% for other incidental expenses at the Headmaster’s discretion (e.g. Juniors will receive up to $150 for ACT/SAT tests, Seniors will receive up to $300 for college applications and/or additional college testing).
- Financial Aid decision criteria in conjunction with SSS (School & Student Services):
- SSS Professional Judgement Elections
- “Child in tuition paying school” is defined by Cistercian as a child in K-16 (includes 4-year college students but NOT graduate school students). Pre-K students will be considered if both parents work full-time. The estimated family contribution for all siblings per RFC will be recalculated when necessary in accordance with the Cistercian defined number of children in tuition paying schools.
If you have any questions, please call Cindi Tenney at 469-499-5433 or email her at CTenney@cistercian.org.